Set in 1854 London and based on the real life of Thomas De Quincy, the author of Confessions of an Opium Eater, of one of the most notorious books ofSet in 1854 London and based on the real life of Thomas De Quincy, the author of Confessions of an Opium Eater, of one of the most notorious books of the Victorian era, Murder As A Fine Art is a well-researched, interesting book that doesn’t quite come off as a police procedural. It’s just not that well written. Is there reason to read it? Yes, if you’re intrigued by arcane information about burial procedures, how Picadilly got its name (from a tailor who made a fashionable collar known as a piccadill), the fact that London bobbies got their name rom the founder of the London Police Department, Sir Robert Peel, and other, the origins and effects of the opium trade, and other interesting facts about mid-19th century England.

While De Quincy and his daughter Emily are historical figures, as is Lord Palmerston, Wordsworth and Coleridge, they never really come to life. The fictional characters are pretty one-dimensional and uninteresting. Morrell uses several literary devices to liven up the book, including different points of view and the inclusion of sections from Emily’s (fictional) diary but nothing really compensates for dull characters. The villain is hardly believable.

What is good though again, mediocre writing doesn’t give it any real spark, is the description of every day life in London at that time. Again, the real and in my opinion only reason to read this book is for the historical perspective. In fact, Morrell would have been better advised to write a non-fiction book about the era....more

Set in mid-19th century England, as the Industrial Revolution has taken firm hold. Adam Swann, following family tradition, is a former soldier, an offSet in mid-19th century England, as the Industrial Revolution has taken firm hold. Adam Swann, following family tradition, is a former soldier, an officer in the East India Company’s army. Disillusioned with Army life after the Crimea and the Sepoy rebellion, he resigns his commission, returning to England in possession of a necklace he accidentally recovered from the battle at Jhansi; he is determined to make a career in commerce, with the necklace providing his starting capital. A fortunate encounter with a railway stationmaster at Plymouth sets his course: he will start a horse-drawn haulage system, filling those gaps in transportation where the railroads do not serve. Another equally accidental and also fortunate encounter introduces him to the remarkable young woman who will become his wife, Henrietta Rawlinson, daughter of Sam Rawlinson, a mill owner. and one of the rags-to-riches ruthless men who ran the nascent industries of England in that time.

What follows is a fascinating story of that period. I’ve never read such a good description, in fiction, of the times--of the rise of the industry-blighted cities like Manchester, of the plight of the factory workers, of the fight for labor’s rights, of the type of people who inhabited the island at that time--still far from homogeneous, each district distinct in its history and culture, yet each peopled by Englishmen.

In a way, his characters are too good to be true, but who cares? If I want to read about dissolute, cynical, depraved, dystopian or otherwise unpleasant Americans or Englishmen, for that matter, I can pick up almost any contemporary novel and get my fill. Fine, but I don’t even need that--I can read the newspapers. What I like about this very well written novel is that it is upbeat without being unrealistic or in any way simpering. I can cheer the Swanns on, I can relish Delderfield’s obvious pride in his countrymen--and I can marvel that, written some 40 years ago, Delderfield was such a feminist! That’s the real surprise of the book.

This is the first in the Swann family saga, and I’m looking forward to reading the next chapter....more

Caesar is now dictator and busy ramming throw reforms of all sorts through a basically powerless Senate and tribunate. One of these reforms is that ofCaesar is now dictator and busy ramming throw reforms of all sorts through a basically powerless Senate and tribunate. One of these reforms is that of the hopelessly outdated and outmoded calendar; the new one will be the first European solar-based calendar, devised by a Greek but known as the Julian calendar. Decius Caecilius Metellus, no longer the Younger, has survived the destruction of his once-powerful family in the early days of the Civil War when Caesar crossed the Rubicon to seize Rome. Now he's one of Caesar's "errand boys"; in this case, in charge of implementing the new calendar.

And what a headache that is! It's intriguing to think about the consequences of abolishing an old calendar. In this case, it meant starting the year in January--and consequently losing three months--just vanished! among other things, it totally does away with the year's Saturnalia. Imagine somehow losing Carnavale (because that's the closest equivalent) in Italy or Brasil! Plus contracts are dated. those and many other unforeseen consequences have made Decius an unpopular man in Rome.

To top it all off, two of Caesar's pet Greek astronomers, brought from Alexandria to help with the calendar project, have been murdered and Caesar is Not Pleased. Decius has the headache of trying to figure out who did it--and why.

In most of the series, Roberts has a particular them on which to hang his plots. Here it's the advent of the Julian calendar, which is not quite enough to sustain the interest. There is--naturally--political intrigue; this is the period just before Caesar's assassination, and Roberts sets the scene well, introducing and elaborating the characters of Brutus and Cassius. The actual assassination comes, not doubt, in a later book.

It's good, and it's fun to follow the history of Rome through the eyes of Decius. Not quite up to the best in the series, but fun for regular followers of Decius' trials and tribulations.

Now praetor perigrinus--an elected official whose job it is to hear cases involving foreigners or Roman citizens outside of Rome, Decius Caecilius MetNow praetor perigrinus--an elected official whose job it is to hear cases involving foreigners or Roman citizens outside of Rome, Decius Caecilius Metellus the Younger is traveling through the towns of Campania, along with his wife, household and now considerable retinue. For once, he's thankful to be away from Rome where everyone waits for the inevitable civil war; Caesar and the Senate are locked in unresolvable conflict, and Pompey is getting ready to raise an army to oppose him. Decius, who basically views the conflict with an attitude of "pox on both your houses: is grimly betting on Caesar to win any war, but he himself tries to remain neutral in a time that brooks no neutrality. Meanwhile, he has set up court in Baiae, a resort town in Campania that is home to a famous Oracle of the Dead, an ancient one that pre-dates even the Greek occupation of the area; it is located in a cavern through which flows, supposedly, the River Styx. Associated with the site and built above the shrine to Hecate located within the Oracle's bounds is a Temple of Apollo. Decius, Julia and their household visit the Oracle; while listening to the Oracle which does indeed prophesy correctly although Decius is unaware of the ramifications, a body washes up, that of the High Priest of Apollo. Decius being Decius, he can't resist getting involved and immediately announces an investigation, which really is beyond his authority as praetor--but when has our boy Decius ever followed the rules? More murders follow, and the unrest and uncertainty that grips Rome manifests itself in Campania as well.

A change from the usual, there is no more political conspiracy in this book, perhaps because the time for conspiracies is at an end; everything is out in the open in Rome, and all await what must seem ironically like the end to a Greek tragedy with Roman trappings. The plot is good although not spectacular, and Roberts uses it to showcase another aspect of Italian religious life, that of foreign religious cults and the way they built on layers and layers of previous occupants of the area. There's some very good information about Greek occupation of the area, as well as the "Aborigines", which is the term used for the original inhabitants. A nice solid, interesting story set in the last year of the Republic just before Caesar crossed the Rubicon....more

Now aedile, an elected office which basically oversees the maintenance and repair of Rome's streets, sewers, and public buildings as well as the superNow aedile, an elected office which basically oversees the maintenance and repair of Rome's streets, sewers, and public buildings as well as the supervision of brothels, Decius Caecilius Metellus is frantically busy as well as frantically worried. As aedile, if he is to have a prayer of winning the important election to praetor, he must put on during his year in office lavish games and celebrations, guaranteed to beggar him financially. Many candidates obtain financial help from wealthy benefactors but at the price of becoming those benefactors' dependents; Decius refuses to to do this, thus throwing himself on the (mostly absent) tender mercies of his relatives. Brooding over this problem, in addition to his other duties, he is overseeing the details for his games, which will take place in the Amelia theater, a recently built structure within Rome's boundaries.

But all problems are forced out of his mind when a five-story insula--a housing structure --comes crashing down, killing hundreds of residents as well as the owners. Clear evidence of shoddy construction sends Decius into a righteous wrath, and he vows to hunt down and prosecute those who are responsible for what he views as mass murder. But since this is our boy Decius, the investigation becomes more complicated.

On top of all these headaches, rivermen are predicting that Father Tiber is going to flood again and worse than usual; a warm wind from Africa is melting the much larger than usual snow pack in the mountains, and the tiber is sure to overflow at record heights. To add to the problem, the city's sewers have not been cleaned in ages, blocking many, threatening to keep the contaminated waters flooding the city until dried out by the sun, ensuring the occurrence of pestilence with accompanying death of thousands within the crowded city. And of course, his investigation is rubbing powerful people the wrong way, and Decius has to fight for his life.

Disappointing. For one thing, the book could have used better editing--there's too much repetition and too many unnecessary passages. There isn't enough of real interest to sustain the usual thin plot; construction fraud doesn't have quite the same cachet as religious festivals, intriguing culture, and foreign wars. It's actually Decius himself, along with his loyal slave Hermes who provide the real interest in the story, since by this 8th book, we have a lot invested in his character and his prospects. We already know that he will live until the reign of augustus Caesar, but how he gets there is of lively interest.

Seventh in the SPQR series featuring Decius Caecilius Metellus the Younger, high-born meddler in others' affairs.

Back once more in Rome to run for aedSeventh in the SPQR series featuring Decius Caecilius Metellus the Younger, high-born meddler in others' affairs.

Back once more in Rome to run for aedile and married to Julia, one of Julius Caesar's nieces, Decius is a happy man--always a mistake, since as everyone knows, the gods really have it in for any mortal who presumes to be happy. And Decius will be no exception.

Pompey, one of the three most powerful men in Roman politics and one of the most hated, is leaving with his army for a totally unnecessary war in Parthia, a war that has been bitterly opposed by any number of factions in Rome; one of the most resolute opponents is a tribune, Ateius, who threatens Decius when the latter refuses to join the tribune's anti-Crassus campaign. The entire city turns out the morning of Crassus' departure to watch the spectacle. But to everyone's horror, Ateius, up on the walls by the gate by which Crassus leaves, calls down terrible curses of old gods and new on Crassus and the city, paralyzing the people with fear of the gods' wrath for such religious pollution. Decius, along with just about every other senator, takes part in a grueling ritual designed to cleanse the city and appease the gods. Near collapse after the ordeal, he discovers that the curse is far worse than imagined, since Ateius has used the Secret Name of Rome, known to very few, which, if discovered by Rome's enemies, can be used to destroy the city. Tasked by no less than Pompey himself to discover who betrayed this most secret of secrets, Decius embarks on an investigation that becomes ever more complicated and dangerous. Naturally.

Once again, Roberts has used a thin plot to spin a tale that brings late Republican Rome alive and gives him the excuse to explore the social and religious aspects of the time--in this book, focusing on ancient religions. Again, very well written and informative. Decius' various scrapes and hair-rasing adventures make good reading; Roberts has a real talent for describing hand-to-hand street fighting at its most low-down.

From time to time, Decius Caecilius Metellus the Younger finds it necessary to leave his beloved Rome, thanks to his nearly supernatural ability to anFrom time to time, Decius Caecilius Metellus the Younger finds it necessary to leave his beloved Rome, thanks to his nearly supernatural ability to anger powerful people with his snooping into murder, conspiracy and the like. His deadly enemy, Publius Clodius Pulscher is now a tribune of the plebs, a powerful position which grants Clodius immunity from prosecution or any other legal action for the year of the tribuneship. Decius, no suicidal hero, takes up Julius Caesar's offer of a military tribuneship in Caesar's army in Gaul, where the latter is beginning his campaign against the Helvetii, a Gallic tribe that has revolted against Rome. To make matters more interesting--and infinitely more dangerous--German tribes have cross the Rhine in force into what was once Gallic territory and Caesar, with only 1 legion, faces even more danger than before. While Caesar returns to rome to gather up the reinforcements promised to him, Decius must investigate the murder of a savage centurion, for which a client of his and 7 other legionaries are being held responsible. Should Decius not find the true guilty party by the time Caesar returns, the eight legionaries will be put to death brutally.

Naturally there's a conspiracy and naturally our boy Decius finds himself in yet another life-threatening situation. But Roberts is inventive and Decius' trial and tribulations are vastly entertaining.

The plot, as usual, is nothing to write home about, but the context of the beginning of Caesar's legendary Gallic campaigns and the information about Germanic tribes and their religious customs is interesting enough and sufficient excuse to read the books. Well written and entertaining, this is yet another fine installment in this most entertaining, lightweight historical fiction series....more

Many cultures and religions celebrated the equinoxes and s5th in the SPQR series, featuring Decius Caecilius Metellus the Younger, aristocratic snoop.

Many cultures and religions celebrated the equinoxes and solstices. The Roman celebration of Saturnalia took place during the winter solstice, and was a massive communal party. The social order was abolished; owners waited on slaves and the different social classes mingled freely. The festival was so popular that the Roman Catholic church moved the celebration of Christmas from January to the winter solstice to co-opt the vestiges of Saturnalia.

But of course, our boy Decius Caecilius has to be involved in something nasty in order to keep up the high jinks of the series. Back from his exile in Rhodes with his beloved Julia, Decius has been recalled (reluctantly, reluctantly) by his family to use his investigative talents to uncover the perpetrator of what the family suspects is the poison murder of the head of the family at that time, Quintus Caecilius Metellus Celer (a historical figure) whose wife, Clodia, is the sister of Decius' deadly enemy, Publius Clodius, and who is the prime suspect, as least as far as the family is concerned. Decius, no fan of Clodia who nearly had him murdered in the past, is convinced, however, that this time, anyway, Clodia was not responsible. So who? His investigation leads him into the illegal, underground world of venders of abortifacients and poisons, the province of country women usually Marsians or Etruscans, who are known as saga (women herbal healers), striga (witches, far more deadly), and venefica (the most feared of all, suppliers of poisons). He stumbles over the rites of an ancient and deadly cult, barely escaping with his life (seems to be his particular talent), and goes on to uncover (naturally) a plot that involves, once again, the most powerful men in the land.

The strength of this series continues to be, not so much the historical political context of late Republican Rome, but the social one. Roberts does an excellent job of bringing the Saturnalia to life; the information about ancient cults and the role of women healers, witches, and poison sellers is fascinating. Add to that a fine sense of humor, and the series, while still lightweight as far as the mystery/police procedural aspect (just an excuse to portray Rome at that period) is concerned, is an excellent one. A fine read and excellent entertainment....more

Deciding that cowardice is the better part of valor, Decius, who has once more antagonized the powerful politicians of Rome, leaves the city for AlexaDeciding that cowardice is the better part of valor, Decius, who has once more antagonized the powerful politicians of Rome, leaves the city for Alexandria, where his kinsman, Quintus Caecilius Metellus Creticus (a historical figure), is on a diplomatic mission to King Ptolemy of Egypt. Despite being away from his beloved Rome, Decius is having a high old time, especially since his girlfriend Julia is there to enjoy Alexandria's vast cultural heritage; the most famous is the throne-supported Library, which houses the researches of a number of "philosophers", as scientists of the time were known. When one of the philosophers is murdered, Decius is empowered by Ptolemy to investigate. Since we're dealing with Decius here, of course there is a horrific conspiracy and of course Decius becomes entangled in life-threatening situations.

I loved this book because it is a real romp. Forget the "plots"--they exist just to highlight Roberts' expertise in the culture of the lat Roman Republic, including that, in this book, of Egypt. We meet Cleopatra, a young girl at this time but already deemed smarter than the rest of the royal family put together. We learn about the history of Alexandria and the headache it was for Rome. The information about the Library and its functions is utterly fascinating.

But above all is the denouement, which was so hilarious that I laughed until the tears came and I could not read further. This probably would not be the case for someone for whom this book is the introduction to the series; you really have to have read the first three and understand Decius' relationship with his family to get the full impact. But so far, it is the best-written of the series and by far and away the funniest.

Highly recommended, but much, much better if you have read the first three before taking up this one.

Roman religion was an interesting mixture of ancient and new deities whose rites were a function of the state. There were some exceptions, and one wasRoman religion was an interesting mixture of ancient and new deities whose rites were a function of the state. There were some exceptions, and one was the rite of the Bona Dea, the Good Goddess, which was the worship of an ancient female earth deity that predated the advent of the ruling sky gods. This was strictly a women's rite; men were absolutely forbidden to view the rites, and any violation was seen not just as an ordinary sacrilege but one that put the very existence of the Roman people themselves at stake, since such sacrilege could result in the loss of fertility of all Roman women.

Publius Clodius Pulcher was the scion of an ancient patrician Roman family, who had too much intelligence coupled with too much ambition and too little to do. A deadly combination, Clodius was a constant troublemaker, whose antics often descended into the dangerous. One such was the profanation of the Bona Dea rites in 62 B.C.E.; held at the home of Julius Caesar who was then the Pontifex Maximus--the supreme high priest of the state-sanctioned Roman religion and the title now of the Roman Catholic pope; Clodius, with the aid of his sister Clodia and Pompeia, Caesar's wife, sneaked into the rites dressed as a woman. He was discovered, and the resulting scandal rocked Rome.

Naturally, our hero Decius becomes involved, for Roberts uses the basic historical event to postulate something much deeper with political implications in order to give his protagonist some sleuthing to do. And that's a problem, because the resolution strains credulity. But getting there is the usual Decius mix: political observations, too much to drink, hair-raising escapes, and encounters with the historically famous. The Caecilii Metellii were an important family, and many of Decius' relatives played important roles in this period: Metellus Celer, an old-fashioned aristocratic politician; Metellus Creticus, a powerful soldier-statesman and others. Roberts has other famous people in Decius' circle, such as Milo of Ostia. And Decius finally gets a steady girlfriend, Julia Minor, Julius Caesar's niece.

For those who have read Lindsay Davis' wonderful Marcus Didius Falco series, which takes place about 100 years later, teh look of this series now becomes familiar. The hero may be an aristocrat unlike Falco, but there's the same private detective context and now he has Caesar's niece no less to aid him much as Helen, the Senator's daughter, aids Falco.

What's interesting in this series is the take Roberts gives Decius on these famous men whom Decius knows more or less well. his view of Caesar changes as the books go on, but his personal enmity with Clodius allows us to see the truly seamy side of Roman politics.

Except for the over-the-top resolution, which anyone who has read Colleen McCullough's series Masters of Rome will see as not really credible, the book is well written and very entertaining--which is the point, after all.

In 63 B.C.E., Lucius Sergius Catilina, an aristocrat from one of the oldest families in Rome, planned a coup d'etat to overthrow the Roman Senate as tIn 63 B.C.E., Lucius Sergius Catilina, an aristocrat from one of the oldest families in Rome, planned a coup d'etat to overthrow the Roman Senate as then constituted. Cicero was Consul that year, at the height of his power. The Catiline Conspiracy, as it is now know, was discovered in the nick of time. Catilina himself escaped from Rome, but many of his fellow conspirators were arrested. Cicero, claiming emergency powers, ordered the execution without trial of 6 of the conspirators. His action, while deemed necessary by the Senate, shocked the ruling class of Rome; trials were considered the right of every Roman citizen, and the precedent alarmed everyone, smacking as it did of a return to the days of Sulla when the Dictator daily published proscription lists of people who were to be killed on sight. This act, although it may arguably have saved the Republic, was Cicero's undoing; from the day forward, his power and influence declined, he was always on the defensive about this act, and ultimately, the decree was the origin of his death. Catilina himself was killed in a battle against Republican forces, fighting heroically.

This historical event is the matrix in which Roberts casts his protagonist, Decius Caecilius Mettelus the Younger. Decius plays a crucial role in ferreting out the conspiracy, and, as usual nearly gets himself killed in the process. Along the way, he intensifies his feud with Publius Clodius (another historical figure), winds up in bed with one more unscrupulous woman, and generally upsets the more stolid members of his illustrious family.

Not as well written as the initial book in the series, The Catiline Conspiracy is still a good read if only for Roberts' take on a crucial event in the history of the late Roman Republic. Decius is an engaging character; through his eyes we see the corruption, veniality, and cynicism of the late Republic. Roberts does an excellent job of portraying the everyday life in the late Republic; it really comes alive, although the historical accuracy gets a little shaky from time to time. The plot is reasonable, and Roberts has plenty of leeway to get his young snoop in and out of trouble....more

Decius Caecilius Mettelus the Younger, the scion of the Elder of the same name,is a member of one of the lesser branches of this very old Roman nobleDecius Caecilius Mettelus the Younger, the scion of the Elder of the same name,is a member of one of the lesser branches of this very old Roman noble family he lives, works, plays and does his best to stay alive in the Rome of the late Republic, when Pompey, Cicero, and Crassus were at the height of their power and influence, and the patrician Gaeus Julius Caesar was an ambitious, up-and-coming politician. At the moment, Decius is the captain of the vigiles who, at that time, functioned as firemen; Rome did not have an organized police force until alter. When an ex-gladiator and a foreign merchant are killed, no one thinks too much about it; Rome in those days was a dangerous place, where street gangs ruled and any number of people died violently. But Decius is an incorrigible snoop; with no real authority, he investigates the murders, which have intrigued him, and uncovers a plot to overthrow the government of Rome.

This is a fun book, if you don't mind the historical errors, and they exist. It's also probably better if you have NOT read Colleen McCullough's utterly superb, matchless series, Masters of Rome, which covers the same period. McCullough is a MUCH better writer and a legitimate scholar of that period, which Roberts clearly is not. Still, Roberts' book has its good points: written in the first person singular, he gives Decius in particular a good sense of humor and can have him function as a commentator and observer which McCullough, writing from the viewpoint of the omniscient observer can not. The plot is nothing special but Roberts makes the book interesting by bringing alive the Rome of that time, and to his great credit, does it in a way that does not suffer too much) by comparison with McCullough. In fact, he brings in some aspects that McCullough does not cover, since in reality he is writing a sort of historical police procedural/mystery, and it makes the book lively.

This is lightweight Roman history, but still entertaining, and unless you know such details as Cato the Younger did NOT consort with his own slaves (that was his grandfather), the historical inaccuracies are not going to be too much of a bother....more

Ignazio Silone is the pseudonym of Secondo Tranquilli, who was born in 1900 in the Abruzzo, at that time was among the poorest regions in southern ItaIgnazio Silone is the pseudonym of Secondo Tranquilli, who was born in 1900 in the Abruzzo, at that time was among the poorest regions in southern Italy, the mezzogiorno which was then and remains economically disadvantaged compared to the more industrialized north. Silone became a Communist; wanted by the Fascist government of Mussolini, he spent 13 years in exile, primarily in Switzerland. In the summer of 1930, Silone began writing Fonatamara, the first book in the trilogy; it was banned in Italy and not published there until after the Liberation.

The entire work is nearly 1000 pages for three novels which in many ways can be said to have little if any plot. The first, Fontamara. is the story of the struggle of the poverty-stricken peasants of the village of that name (modeled after Silone's home village of Pescina) during the first years of the Fascist regime. Three members of a family of peasants--father, mother, and adolescent son--seek refuge with the (unnamed) author in Switzerland, pouring out their story of the ruthlessness of the new government against the Abruzzo peasants; a landowner, a mayor under the government, has swindled the peasants out of their water.. The story is told alternatively from each one's point of view: the father describes the reaction of the men of the village, the mother that of the women, and the son that of the young men who still have hopes and dreams and some of whom struggle against the New Order. It is a chilling account of the way the peasants have been betrayed by the middle and upper classes of Italy for time out of mind, of mistrust, suspicion, superstition, and the heroism of surviving everyday life under increasingly bitter circumstances. Introduced in this narrative is the Mysterious Stranger, a young Communist, who meets up with the son in Rome and who simply listens and talks to the young man. Both are imprisoned; the son is released and the Mysterious Stranger escapes. The son returns to Fontamara to witness the horrifying climax of the book.

Bread and Wine is considered Silone's masterpiece and is the first of the trilogy that I read many years ago. I had never heard of it before; finding out that it was one of Dorothy Day's favorite books, I picked it up out of curiosity--and was utterly gripped by the book. It continues the story of the Mysterious Stranger, who is Pietro Spina, grandson of a wealthy landowning family in Orta (and who is a semi-autobiographical character), a village in the Abruzzo. Spina returns there and with the help of friends and his grandmother, goes into hiding in another village disguised as a priest, Don Paulo Spada, recovering from an illness. The story is really a record of Spina’s observations at the peasant level of life in this poverty-stricken community. Here, Spina’s “relentless Communism” begins to be softened by a nascent return to Christianity--not the official Christianity of the Catholic Church, whose priests and officials are perfectly capable of exploiting the peasants in their flock, but of a more humble kind, closer to Christ Himself. Finally unable to bear exile from his own village and people, Spina leaves, pursued by the carabinieri.

Bread and Wine is very similar in theme to Carlo Levi’s Christ Stopped at Eboli. Levi, a physician, was born in Turin in northern Italy. He was found in contempt of the Fascist government and banished to a town in the south of Italy, in a region known then as Lucania but today is better known as Basilicata. Levi’s is a memoir of a year spent there, where the peasants assure him that they really aren’t Christians, that Christ stopped just north of their village in the town of Eboli.

While similar, Silone’s books are distinguished by the dark, sometimes ferocious humor of the peasants.

The third book, A Seed under the Snow was Silone’s favorite. Rescued by his grandmother, Spina lives in hiding for a while at their home in Orta, but unable to take the confinement, he leaves, hiding out with Simone the Weasel and a deaf-mute, Infante, in a dilapidated barn that belongs to the Spina family. There Spina continues his education in the real world of the poor under the wise tutelage of Simone, and learns real compassion for real people with Infante.

The story ends with a real shocker, but upon reflection, utterly logically.

These are not fast-reading books, but they are absorbing, documenting as they do not only the misery of the lives of the southern Italian peasants and farmers but truly the way they thought and believed. There are no real heroes here except possibly for Donna Maria Vicenza, Spina’s grandmother, and Simone the Weasel. Despite Spina’s idealism, the peasants are not romanticized in the least; most are cunning, suspicious and not inclined to put themselves out for anyone outside the family. There is too much drunkenness, too much despair and lethargy, but there are also surprising gleams of affection and the compassion of true friendship.

Sixth in the Captain Alatriste series set in early 17th century Spain.

As usual, Perez-Reverte, through the medium of the professional swordsman/soldieSixth in the Captain Alatriste series set in early 17th century Spain.

As usual, Perez-Reverte, through the medium of the professional swordsman/soldier, Captain Alatriste, and his 17 year old protogé, Íñigo Balboa, explores yet another aspect of early 17th century Spain, that of its colonies in the Levant.

Alatriste and Íñigo have signed on as soldiers (marines, really) in the galleys, Spain’s navy. They are to patrol the Levant, harassing and destroying Turkish, English and other enemy shipping. While cannon were employed on naval ships, Spain, with its history tied to its infantry and the hidalgo scorn for sailors, did not do so as extensively as the British. Indeed, Íñigo, in a truly funny passage, sneers at the English for hiding behind their canon, cowards that they are. The difference shows up in the Aubrey/Maturin novels of the Napoleonic sea warfare; the Spanish are considered courageous sailors, but can’t point a gun to hit the broad side of a barn.

While Alatriste, Íñigo, and afriends have many an adventure, teh sub-plot--what was the Spanish point of view in ejecting the Moors from Spain, what happened to the converted Moors--Moriscos--and the empire’s relations with its North African colonies in what is now Morocco and Algiers--is fascinating, as is usual in a Perez-Reverte novel of this period.

The book culminates with the Battle of the Escanerlu Channel, near Malta, in what is not only a wonderfully written action-adventure of its type Perez-Reverte does nto have to take a back seat to such as O’Brian or Forester for his description--but is the perfect example of what made Spain the empire it was--the courage and honor of the Spanish soldier.

In every installment of this very fine series, Perez-Reverte provides a plot to k5th in the Captain Alatriste series, set in early 17th century Spain.

In every installment of this very fine series, Perez-Reverte provides a plot to keep Alatriste and his (now) 16 year old protogé, Íñigo Blaboa, appropriately employed and busy. Suffice to say, that there’s plenty of violent action, very well writtten.

But the real focus of the book is on the literary and theater life of early 17th century Spain. It was a rich, thriving, bursting-with-life scene. In fact, if you believe Íñigo, Shakespeare (contemporary in the era) wrote these silly little plays with absurd plots and dull characters!

At the time the story takes place--1626--Cervantes has died a few years before, impoverished and scorned as a literary figure of no merit. The brightest star of the poetry (and therefore dramatic) firmament is Lope de Vega. A rising figure is Pedro Calderón, one of whose plays I saw about 10 years ago. A court favorite, who writes poetry for the king and plays for the queen, is Francisco de Quevedo, another historical literary figure who, along with a famous actress and her husband, figure prominently in the story. Pérez-Reverte works all of his obvious love for the literature of the era seamlessly into the book and the plot.

At the end of the book, as in others in the series, there is a selection of poems from de Quevedo, Lope de Vega, and Luis de Góngora, another prominent poet and bitter, life-long rival of de Queveda. It’s either slicing a rival to pieces ( with not exactly delicate language) or else commenting with eyes open about love and life.

Fourth in the Captain Alatriste series, set in early 17th century Spain.

Superficially, the series looks like a variation of the swashbuckling action-aFourth in the Captain Alatriste series, set in early 17th century Spain.

Superficially, the series looks like a variation of the swashbuckling action-adventure reminiscent of the pirate scene. Captain Alatriste, the protagonist, is anything but. He is a professional swordsman,an, sometimes soldier of the king of Spain, often a hired sword for whatever dirty work requires violence. He is also a devoté of the theater and friend of poets. An introspective man, he says little but stands fiercely by his friends--and his honor. The stories are narrated by Íñigo Balboa, the young son of a soldier friend killed in one of Spain’s endless wars.

At the time of this installment, 1625, Spain “owns half the worlds and is at war with the other half.” Because of the ferocity of Spain’s soldiers, “the name of Spaniard made the earth tremble.” But in reality, Spain’s empire, which straddles both the Old and the New Worlds, is in decline. Only the gold from the New World keeps the soldiers paid, the wars going. And corruption, the reluctance of the Spanish to work (everyone wants to be a nobleman), and the lavishness of the court of Philip IV, means that Spain is being drained.

Alatriste and Balboa have returned to Seville after the Battle of Breda in Flanders. Alatriste is approached by an old friend, a confidante of the king, to intercept the theft of one of the treasure ships that is about to make landfall at Seville. It’s a tricky business that will involve nasty fighting with not a great promise of success.

That’s the plot. But what is really the story is that of Spain and its culture--and especially the lives of the soldiers who upheld the empire.

Since Íñigo is now 15 and a true veteran of war, he is starting to grow up, and beginning to understand just what Spain is about. He’s writing as an old man, looking back on his life--but the viewpoint is still that of a young man (they grew up fast in those days), learning about the life he has chosen and the culture to which he belongs.

I find the series fascinating because Perez-Reverte finds the era fascinating and is able to communicate the richness of the times and place. This is one of the shorter and in a way, more straight-forward installments in the series, but absorbing and entertaining. Highly recommended....more

This is a REALLY bad book set in the early years of Victorian England. Badly written, half-dimensional characters. Only thing going for it is an interThis is a REALLY bad book set in the early years of Victorian England. Badly written, half-dimensional characters. Only thing going for it is an interesting premise about Victoria, which is barely supported by history. Avoid like the plague....more